Tufted deer

(Elaphodus cephalophus)
(Poorly known)
Josephine Lee
tufted deer.jpg

The tufted deer is a living thing because it can...

a)Reproduction-

Mating season begins in late autumn (September) and in early winter (December) when male tufted deer are easily heard from humans.Tufted deer sexually mature very quickly, they are able to reproduce at of 9 months. A litter of fawns are usually 1-2 , born in April to June. The fawns will weigh from 3 pounds at birth and will weigh 37 -110 pounds when fully matured. Gestation periods take about 6 months (180 days).

  • Polygnous- having more than one female to mate with during the same time

b)Growth/ changing-Fawns will become a chocolate brown colour with A row of white spots along each side of the spine, spots will start to fade as getting older. Fawns will become independent of their mothers when they are about 6 months old.

  • They weigh up to 17-50kg ( 37-110 lb.).and are 110-160 cm long in length.

  • Tail is 7 -16 cm long.


c) Responds-The tufted deer responds to the weathers of different seasons, being almost all black in the winter and chocolate brown in the summer ( Well camouflaged).When alarmed from other species ,tufted deer bark to warn others.


c.1) Communication

  • Uses touch to communicate

  • Uses their sense of smell to communicate


Facts

Youtube video of close relative of the tufted deer-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfJC3BLtmaQ
  • Nearly threatened ( 30 percent over three generations).
  • Approximately 300 000 - 500 000 in china still living.
  • Tufted deer have been hunted down and traded in china.
  • Solitary, usually in groups of two

Food Chain

Scientists yet know the food chain of a tufted deer,
but the research that I have found ,show only a fraction of what can possibly eat a
tufted deer or what a tufted deer can eat.
It shows that tufted deer eat the following- leaves, twigs, sprouts, carrion ,fruits, grass, bamboo, fruits and other types of vegetation,
the tufted is also hunted by leopards (panthera pardus) ,dhole(cuon alpinus).

Pack of dholes hutting around a deer.
external image 2012-bandipur-dhole-sambar.jpg
external image dhole.jpg
Dhole
external image 7078464-leopard-panthera-pardus-sleeping-on-the-tree-in-nature-reserve-in-south-africa.jpg
Leopards


mother and fawn.pngchinese-water-deer.jpg


Air

  • air is very humid from dampness in the jungle/forest

  • 24-35 degrees

Water

  • drinks and lives near water

Shelter

  • NE Burma (Myanmar) and southern and central china, northeastern Myanmar (below snow line).

  • high valley jungles, mountain forests (damp)

  • live near water

  • 300-4600 meters above sea level

  • Tufted deer habitats are characterized by shrubs and herb density.

Food

  • Herbivore – leaves, twigs, sprouts, carrion, grass, bamboo, fruits and other types of vegetation

  • predators- leopards (panthera pardus) ,dhole(cuon alpinus)


external image nechina.gif
external image 637_027l.gif


More information in website-
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/7112/0

Scientific Classification

Class

Mammalia

Order

Artiodactyla

Family

Cervidae

Genus

Elaphodus

Species

Elaphodus Cephalophus

Life Span

15 years

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tufted_deer
https://www.racinezoo.org/western-tufted-deer-fact-sheet
http://eol.org/pag
http://www.ultimateungulate.com/Artiodactyla/Elaphodus_cephalophus.html
es/308480/de
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Elaphodus_cephalophus/
tails
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/7112/0